NURS 6050 Week 4 assignment: Legislation Comparison Grid and Testimony/Advocacy Statement Example
Assignment: Legislation Comparison Grid and Testimony/Advocacy Statement
As a nurse, how often have you thought to yourself, If I had anything to do about it, things would work a little differently? Increasingly, nurses are beginning to realize that they do, in fact, have a role and a voice.
Many nurses encounter daily experiences that motivate them to take on an advocacy role in hopes of impacting policies, laws, or regulations that impact healthcare issues of interest. Of course, doing so means entering the less familiar world of policy and politics. While many nurses do not initially feel prepared to operate in this space effectively, the reward is the opportunity to shape and influence future health policy.
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To Prepare:
Select a bill that has been proposed (not one that has been enacted) using the congressional websites provided in the Learning Resources.
The Assignment: (1- to 2-page Comparison Grid; 1- to 2-page Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement)
Part 1: Legislation Comparison Grid
Based on the health-related bill (proposed, not enacted) you selected, complete the Legislation Comparison Grid Template. Be sure to address the following:
Determine the legislative intent of the bill you have reviewed.
Identify the proponents/opponents of the bill.
NURS 6050 Week 4 assignment: Legislation Comparison Grid and Testimony/Advocacy Statement Example
Identify the target populations addressed by the bill.
Where in the process is the bill currently? Is it in hearings or committees?
Is it receiving press coverage?
Part 2: Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement
Based on the health-related bill you selected, develop a 1- to 2-page Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement that addresses the following:
Advocate a position for the bill you selected and write testimony in support of your position.
Describe how you would address the opponent to your position. Be specific and provide examples.
Recommend at least one amendment to the bill in support of your position.
Legislation comparison and advocacy
Part 1. Legislative comparison grid
| Health-related Bill name | Autism CARES Act of 2019 (Autism collaboration, accountability, research, education, and support Act of 2019) |
| Description | The Bill has been presented as a legislative requirement to reauthorize the Autism CARES Act by 30th September 2019. Its legislative history dates back to 2006 when President George W. Bush signed it into law as Combating Autism Act (P.L. 109-416). The intention of the law was to offer coordinated federal response to the dramatic increase in persons diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in the country. It increased public investment to address the growing needs of persons diagnosed with autism spectrum of disorders, while authorizing the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee to coordinate federal efforts targeted at the disorder. The legislation was reauthorized in 2014 as the Autism CARES Act (P.L. 113-157). It must be reauthorized by September 2019 for the Federal activities conducted under the legislation to continue (Autism Society, 2019). |
| Federal or State? | Federal |
| Legislative intent | The Bill was introduced into the House of Representatives as House Bill (H.R. 1058) by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Rep. Mike Doyle. The Bill was introduced into Senate as Senate Bill (S. 427) by Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ_ and Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY).
Legislative discussions are still ongoing for the Bill with proposals to expand and intensify the current format of the legislation. The intention is to enhance the activities of the National Institutes of Health with a focus on the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284g) to support research on autism spectrum disorders, and reduce care gaps (Autism Society, 2019). NURS 6050 Week 4 assignment: Legislation Comparison Grid and Testimony/Advocacy Statement Example |
| Target population | The target population is persons diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The intention is to improve their care quality and outcomes through supporting research activities that improve understanding of the disorder. |
| Status of the bill (is it in hearings or committees? Is it receiving press coverage?) | The Bill was introduced in the 1st session of the 116th Congress and discussions are currently ongoing with focus on amending the Public Health Service Act to enhance the activities of the National Institutes of Health with the intention of supporting research activities on autism spectrum disorder and enhancing health care programs.
It was introduced to the Senate by Mr. Menendez and Mr. Enzi, read twice and referred to the health committee. The Bill is receiving press coverage with legislators brining public attention to its content and intentions. Rep. Mike Doyle (D-PA), Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Senator Mike Enzi (R- WY), and Senator Bob Menedez (D- NJ) made press releases to drum up public support for the Bill. In April 2019, Congressman Smith wrote a letter to support full funding for the Bill. In addition, other organizations that focus on improving autism care are brining attention to the Bill. In May 2019, 35 national organizations wrote a coalition in support of the Bill. An updated letter was written later in the same month to ask for expedited consideration of the Bill (Autism Society, 2019). |
| General notes/comments | The Bill seeks to provide comprehensive attention to the care of persons with autism spectrum disorder. Still, there is a concern that the deadline for reauthorizing the Bill is 30th September 2019 and yet legislative debate is still ongoing to imply that the Bill may not be reauthorized by 30th September.
Should the Bill be reauthorized in its current form, there substantive advances will be realized in the care of persons with autism spectrum disorders. It would improve infrastructure and surveillance, inform on lifespan issues, identify helpful treatments and interventions, identify risk factors, inform on the biology, and determining diagnosis and screening concerns NURS 6050 Week 4 assignment: Legislation Comparison Grid and Testimony/Advocacy Statement Example. Overall, the Bill seeks to make substantive improvements in the care of persons with autism spectrum disorders, and these benefits can only be realized if the Bill is reauthorized before the 30th September deadline (Autism Society, 2019). |
Part 2. Legislation testimony/advocacy statement
There is a need for the legislation to be reauthorized in its current form as the Autism CARES Act of 2019. That is because it seeks to increase the federal investment across the government departments concerned with addressing the increasing needs of persons with autism spectrum disorder. Should the Bill fail to be reauthorized by the 30th September 2019 deadline, then efforts to address autism spectrum disorders are likely to hindered and past gains reversed. In fact, failing to reauthorized the Bill would deny the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee the authority to coordinate federal efforts targeted at autism. This would increase the possibility of efforts being duplicated and resources wasted. Besides that, autism is a present concern since 1.67% of children are suffering from the disorder, a significant population and yet management efforts are hindered by a dearth of information that would be best addressed through research. NURS 6050 Week 4 assignment: Legislation Comparison Grid and Testimony/Advocacy Statement Example. Through passing the bill, significant advances would be reported in three areas. Firstly, research efforts would be coordinated through supporting research funded by the National Institute of Health. Secondly, streamlining data and surveillance through building infrastructure at CDC to monitor autism. Finally, supporting training efforts to address the reported shortages of personnel who address screening, diagnosis and treatment efforts (Autism Society, 2019). Although the Bill seeks to improve autism management, there is a legitimate concern that it would increase federal spending on health and the federal deficit. This objection is in reference to Section 3 Part e of the Bill that amends appropriations authorization to increase funding for federal programs. This concern can be addressed through making two amendments to the Bill. The first amendment is to eliminate the part that seeks to increasing federal funding for autism management (repeal authorizations of appropriations) so that the federal deficit concerns are eliminated (Saba & McCormick, 2015). The second amendment is to mobilize funding from non-governmental and private donors who support a similar heath agenda. This would ensure that although federal funding is not used, the autism management activities identified by the Bill are not discontinued and they continue to receive funding (Feldstein, 2006). Overall, the Autism CARES Act of 2019 has much value, and could be improved to receive greater support if federal funding is reduced and alternative non-government funding is sourced. NURS 6050 Week 4 assignment: Legislation Comparison Grid and Testimony/Advocacy Statement Example.
References
Autism Society (2019). Autism CARES Act Reauthorization (2019). Retrieved from https://www.autism-society.org/public-policy/autism-cares-act-reauthorization-2019/
Feldstein, P. (2006). The politics of health legislation: an economic perspective (3rd ed.). Chicago, IL: Health Administration Press.
Saba, V. & McCormick, K. (2015). Essentials of nursing informatics (6th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. NURS 6050 Week 4 assignment: Legislation Comparison Grid and Testimony/Advocacy Statement Example